Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Pathogen tracking'

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 49 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-49).

Anthropozoonotic diseases, defined as infectious diseases caused by pathogens transmitted from humans to wildlife, pose a significant health threat to wildlife populations. Many of these pathogens are also able to move from wildlife reservoirs to humans, termed zoonotic diseases, creating the possibility for bi-directional transmission between humans and wildlife. Recent studies show that a significant proportion of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in wildlife reservoirs and that the frequency of emergence is increasing, yet the specific transmission pathways still remain speculative in most cases. Human fecal waste is persistent across human-modified landscapes and has been identified as a potential source of disease exposure for wildlife populations living near humans. As part of a long-term study of banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) that live in close association with humans and human fecal waste I used Escherichia coli and banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) for evaluating exchange of fecal waste-borne microorganisms at the human-wildlife interface. Antibiotic resistance was found in 57.5% ° 10.3% (n=87) of mongoose fecal samples and 37.2% ° 5.9% of isolates (n=253). Multidrug resistance was detected in 13.8% ° 4.2% of isolates (n=253). Mongoose and human fecal waste isolates consistently clustered together in phylogenetic analyses and statistical analysis of genetic variation showed no significant differences (p=0.18) between E. coli from human and mongoose populations. These results suggest that human fecal waste contamination is an important mechanism for the transmission of pathogens to both humans and animals, including the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment, an emerging global health threat.
Master of Science

Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne oomycete pathogen causing root rot in susceptible host species. P. cinnamomi is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia, but has since been introduced to many regions around the world, where it causes dramatic declines in many forest tree species. In the eastern US, the primary susceptible tree species of concern are American chestnut (Castanea dentata), white oak (Quercus alba), and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata). American chestnut, functionally eliminated in the early 1900s by the rapidly acting chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica), has been the subject of decades-long breeding efforts aimed at improving chestnut resistance to chestnut blight. To improve chestnut restoration success, and restoration of other susceptible species, the distribution patterns of P. cinnamomi on a landscape scale must be better understood. This project was initiated to develop an improved method for detecting P. cinnamomi to permit high-throughput screening of forest soils, and to implement the improved detection approach in characterizing the distribution patterns of P. cinnamomi in developing soils on reclaimed surface mines in eastern Kentucky, as well as mature forest soils within an undisturbed watershed in a reference-quality eastern Kentucky forest. We developed an improved detection method using a molecular DNA-amplification approach (PCR), which demonstrated similar sensitivity to traditional culture-based methods, but required less time and space than traditional methods. We used this detection approach to screen soils from a chronosequence of reclaimed surface mines (reclaimed at different points in time) to evaluate whether reclaimed surface mined sites become favorable for P. cinnamomi colonization over time. Our analysis detected P. cinnamomi at the two older sites (reclaimed in 1997 and 2003), but we did not detect P. cinnamomi at the two newer sites sampled (reclaimed in 2005 and 2007). These results suggest that surface mined sites become favorable for P. cinnamomi colonization over time, and should not be considered permanently “Phytophthora-free.” We also collected ~200 samples from a watershed in UK’s Robinson Forest, from plots representing a gradient of topographic position, slope, and aspect. This survey indicated that P. cinnamomi distribution in forests is complex and can be difficult to predict; however, P. cinnamomi was detected in both drier upslope sites and in moister drainage sites.

Les maladies infectieuses font partie des préoccupations mondiales en santé publique, en particulier en raison de la résistance aux antimicrobiens chez certaines bactéries pathogènes. L'espèce Klebsiella pneumoniae est identifiée comme l'une des bactéries multirésistantes les plus préoccupantes. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, responsable de la diphtérie, reste largement sensible aux antibiotiques de première intention dont la pénicilline et peut être contrôlée par les vaccins, mais ré-émerge lorsque la couverture vaccinale est insuffisante. Parmi les moyens de contrôle des maladies infectieuses, la détection et l'identification précise de ces agents pathogènes, ainsi que leur suivi épidémiologique, jouent un rôle primordial. La mise en œuvre du séquençage génomique a révolutionné le génotypage bactérien grâce à son haut pouvoir discriminant, qui permet la distinction des agents pathogènes à l'échelle des souches. Le séquençage génomique permet également la détection de variants et de leurs caractéristiques importantes, telles que leur virulence ou leur résistance. Les travaux de recherche de cette thèse s'articulent sur deux axes principaux. Le premier axe apporte des analyses bio-informatiques de la structure populationnelle de la résistance aux antibiotiques chez C. diphtheriae. Une étude d'association génomique (GWAS) a été réalisée pour définir les bases moléculaires de la résistance, ainsi que les associations avec la production de toxine diphtérique et d'autres caractéristiques des souches. Un nouveau gène de résistance à la pénicilline a été découvert sur un élément mobile chez C. diphtheriae. Un outil de génotypage a été développé spécifiquement pour C. diphtheriae, pour laquelle les liens entre génotypes et phénotypes cliniques sont mal connus. Cet outil consolide et facilite la détection et le génotypage des principaux facteurs de virulence et des gènes de résistance, ainsi que l'usage des nomenclatures des souches à partir de génomes assemblés. Il permet également de prédire les biovars et la toxicité des souches. Le second axe est consacré à la taxonomie génomique infra-spécifique. Une nouvelle approche de classification et de nomenclature génomiques est proposée en utilisant comme modèle l'espèce K. pneumoniae. Ces travaux détaillent la conception et l'implémentation d'un système de codes-barres qui combine le regroupement par Single Linkage MultiLevel (MLSL) et les LIN (Life Identification Number) codes, tous deux basés sur le même schéma de typage core-genome MLST (cgMLST). Cette approche taxonomique innovante résulte en une nomenclature infra-spécifique précise et stable, qui est de plus largement déployable chez les autres espèces bactériennes. Une étude de la structure phylogénétique de C. diphtheriae a également été réalisée, avec la mise en œuvre d'un système cgMLST sur la base duquel une taxonomie génomique des souches a été proposée. Sur la base des nouveaux apports et concepts précédemment exposés, plusieurs études de cas ont été réalisées : mise en évidence et caractérisation d'une nouvelle espèce bactérienne (C. rouxii), précédemment confondue avec C. diphtheriae ; et épidémiologie génomique de la diphtérie dans différentes régions du monde, ou à partir de sources cliniques humaines et animales. Ces applications de la taxonomie génomique associée à la détection des gènes de résistance aux antibiotiques illustrent le potentiel des méthodes et des outils développés durant cette thèse afin de contribuer à la recherche et à la surveillance génomique des bactéries pathogènes
Infectious diseases are a global public health concern, particularly due to antimicrobial-resistance in some pathogenic bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most worrying multiresistant bacteria. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which causes diphtheria, remains largely susceptible to first-line antibiotics, including penicillin, and can be controlled through vaccination, but re-emerges when vaccination coverage is insufficient. Among the effective infection control measures, the accurate detection and identification of these pathogens, as well as their epidemiological monitoring, play a key role. In the recent years, the implementation of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has revolutionised bacterial genotyping, by providing discrimination at the strain level. Genomic sequencing also enables the detection of variants and their important characteristics, such as virulence or antimicrobial resistance. The research work of this thesis is structured around two main axes. The first axis provides bioinformatic analyses of the population structure of antimicrobial resistance in C. diphtheriae. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to determine the genetic basis behind the resistance phenotypes, as well as the associations with diphtheria toxin production and other strain characteristics. A new penicillin resistance gene was discovered on a mobile element in C. diphtheriae. A genotyping tool was developed specifically for C. diphtheriae, for which the links between genotypes and clinical phenotypes are poorly known. This tool consolidates and facilitates the detection and genotyping of the main virulence factors and resistance genes, as well as the use of strain nomenclatures from assembled genomes. It also enables the prediction of biovars and toxicity of strains. The second axis relates to infra-species genomic taxonomy. A new approach of genome-based classification and nomenclature of strains was developed using K. pneumoniae as a model. This work describes the design and implementation of a barcoding system that combines Single Linkage MultiLevel (MLSL) clustering and Life Identification Number (LIN) codes, both based on the same core-genome MLST (cgMLST) typing scheme. This innovative taxonomic approach, widely applicable to other bacterial species, yields precise and stable nomenclatures. A study of the phylogenetic structure of C. diphtheriae was also carried out, with the implementation of a cgMLST scheme on the basis of which a genomic taxonomy of strains was proposed. Based on the contributions and concepts presented above, several case studies were carried out: identification and characterisation of a new species (C. rouxii), previously misidentified as C. diphtheriae; genomic epidemiology of diphtheria in different world regions or clinical sources. These applications of genomic taxonomy in combination with antimicrobial resistance gene detection illustrate the potential of the methods and tools developed during this thesis to support genomic research and surveillance of pathogenic bacteria

There has been a surge in the number of emerging zoonotic vector-borne diseases world-wide. Current research on vector-borne diseases is often focused on interactions between mammalian hosts and pathogens. Relatively little is known of the interactions that take place when pathogens are ingested by vector species. The aim of this project is to develop techniques which would allow us to track zoonotic bacteria within the vector and to identify possible interactions. Two models were used in this study: Bartonella henselae and the flea Ctenocephalides felis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum and the tick Ixodes ricinus.

Bacterial water pollution is a significant problem because it is associated with reduction in the ‘quality’ of water systems with a potential impact on human health. Faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are usually used to monitor the quality of water, and to indicate the presence of pathogens in water bodies. However, enumeration alone does not enable identification of the precise origin of these pathogens. This study aimed to monitor the quality of bathing water and associated fresh water in and out of the ‘bathing season’ in the UK, and to evaluate the use of microbial source tracking (MST) such as the host-specific based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to recognize human and other animal sources of faecal pollution. The culture-dependent EU method of estimating FIB in water and sediment samples was performed on beach in the South Sands, Kingsbridge estuary, Devon, UK- a previously ‘problematic’ site. FIB were present at significant levels in the sediments, especially mud, as well as fresh water from the stream and pond flowing onto South Sands beach. However, the quality of bathing water was deemed to be ‘good’ and met with the EU bathing water directive 2006. Using MST it was possible to successfully classify the nature of the source from which the bacteria came. PCR was applied to detect the Bacteroides species 16S rRNA genetic markers from human sewage and animal faeces. All water and sediment samples displayed positive results with a general Bacteroides marker indicating the presence of Bacteroides species. Host-specific PCR showed the human Bacteroides genetic marker only in the sediment of the stream. However, limitations in the ‘types’ of probes available and in the persistence of these markers were identified. Thus, novel dog-specific Bacteroides conventional PCR and qPCR primer sets were developed to amplify a section of the 16S rRNA gene unique to the Bacteroides genetic marker from domestic dog faeces, and these were successfully used to quantify those markers in water samples at a ‘dog permitted’ and ‘dog banned’ beach (Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon, UK). Generic, human and dog Bacteroides PCR primer sets were also used to evaluate the persistence of Bacteroides genetic markers in controlled microcosms of water and sediment at differing salinities (< 0.5 and 34 psu) and temperature (10 and 17 ºC). The rates of decline were found did not differ significantly over 14 and 16 days for the water and sediment microcosms, respectively. Beach sediments which were studied in this project may act as a reservoir for adhesive FIB, and this was confirmed using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). The similarity in the persistence of these Bacteroides 16S rRNA genetic markers in environmental water and sediment suggests that viable but non-culturable (VBNC) Bacteroides spp. do not persist in the natural environment for long. Therefore, 16S rRNA genetic markers can be of value as additional faecal indicators of bathing water pollution and in source tracking. Thus, in this study MST methods were successfully used and in future applications, dog-specific primer sets can be added to the suite of host-specific Bacteroides genetic markers available to identify the source(s) of problem bacteria found on failing beaches.

SARS-CoV-2 is caused by a pathogenic and highly transmissible beta coronavirus leading to severe infections in immuno-compromised individuals. This study first evaluates the primers used in the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 by understanding how mutations might affect the primer efficiency with the SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Mutations on the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 are the most important as the spike protein mediates the viral entry into host cells. This study tracks the course of mutations on the spike protein by focusing on the haplogroups of the sequences across the world. A comprehensive database linking three important, currently available databases is curated as part of this study to fill the gaps caused by sequencing errors. Further, this study exploits the data generated by the Illumina and Oxford Nanopore next generation sequencing methods to study the evolution of mutations in a single Septuagenarian patient over an infection period of 102 days using the gene analysis software Geneious Prime.
Master of Science
A novel corona virus named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has taken down the entire world by causing Covid-19 pandemic. Initially detected in Wuhan, China, the virus has now made its way to more than 200 countries with a heavy death toll. Understanding the virus through mutation tracking and improving diagnostics and vaccine design have now become the top priority of researchers. Most of these researchers depend on quality viral sequence datasets to identify and track mutations. One aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive dataset linking the GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data), NCBI (National Center for Biological Information) and the SRA (Sequence Read Archive) sequences. The dataset can be used for genome analysis and mutation tracking which can provide important insights for vaccine design and in improving diagnostic assays. In addition, this study provides an analysis of viral mutations in in the genomic regions targeted by commonly used primers in the RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 that may affect the efficiency of detection. This study also uses the haplogroup information of people across the world to track the D614G mutation on the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 as it may be associated with increased transmissibility. To track the course of mutations in SARS-CoV-2, it is important to analyze the sequencing data provided by the Illumina and Oxford Nanopore next generation sequencing methods. We present a case study to investigate the course of SARS-CoV-2 mutations in a single septuagenarian patient over a period of 102days using the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) data generated by two Next Generation Sequencing methods and compare the advantages that one has over the other.

Investigations into plant-pathogen interactions have provided us with several models underlying the genetic basis of host resistance in plants. In the past decade, tens of resistance genes have been isolated from numerous crop and model plant species and these form a few distinct classes when classified by domain structure, the majority being nucleotide-bindingsite- leucine-rich-repeat (NBS-LRR) genes. The NBS-LRR family consists of two sub-families based on the N-terminal domain: the coiled-coil (CC) NBS-LRRs and the Toll Interleukin Receptor homology domain (TIR) NBS-LRRs. The potential of these genes for future and current agricultural breeding programs has driven a large number of studies exploring the members of these gene families in the genomes of a variety of crop species. In the present study I focused on the NBS-LRR family in the allohexaploid wheat genome and obtained a comprehensive set of Triticeae NBS-LRR homologues using a combination of data-mining approaches. As starting point I detected conserved motifs in the dataset, finding all six previously characterized in the core-NBS domain of other plant NBS-LRRs. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to study relationships between the Triticeae NBS-LRR family and the 25 CC-NBS-LRR (CNL) R genes identified to date. I found the Triticeae CNL family to be highly divergent, containing ancient clade lineages, as seen in all angiosperm 120 taxa previously studied, and found a number of “ancient” dicotyl R genes grouped with Triticeae clades. The evolution of recent NBS-LRR gene duplications in the Triticeae was studied at the hand of two modes of duplication - firstly individual gene duplications yielding paralogous loci and secondly gene duplication by allopolyploidy. Current models of NBS-LRR family evolution predict that functional divergence occurs after gene duplication. An alternative is that divergence takes place at allele level, followed by a locus duplication that fixes heterozygosity in a single haplotype by unequal recombination. I investigated this hypothesis by studying the evolution of gene duplicates in two different contexts – paralogous duplications in the diploid barley genome and homeologous duplications in the allohexaploid genome of wheat. Nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rate ratios were estimated for paralogous gene duplications in three recently diverged NBS-LRR clades. All pairwise comparisons yielded Ka:Ks ratios strongly indicative of purifying selection. Given that R gene mediated resistance is inherited qualitatively rather than quantitatively, I interpret this as evidence that even closely related paralogous copies (90-95% identity) should have independent recognition specificities maintained by purifying selection. Homeologous duplications were studied in allohexaploid wheat (AABBDD) using a section of the go35 NBS-LRR gene (2L) of the B and D diploid donor species of wheat. Numerous synonymous substitutions distinguished the B and D genome copies, with an absence of nonsynonymous substitutions. In contrast, single unique nonsynonymous substitutions were found in four out of five polyploid wheat go35 alleles, indicating that selection pressure was indeed relaxed across the homeolocus. Recent studies on polyploid genomes have shown that duplicated resistance genes are far more likely to be eliminated than highly transcribed genes such as tRNAs and rRNAs. These results are in agreement with the view that functional divergence takes place before duplication for NBS-LRR genes, as the loci duplicated by polyploidy appear not to evolve under purifying selection, as I found for the paralogous loci investigated.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008.
Genetics
unrestricted

碩士
東吳大學
微生物學系
101
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the most prevalent food poisoning bacterium in Taiwan via the consumption of contaminated seafood. The FDA of United States has finished a Risk Assessment of V. parahaemolyticus in raw molluscan shellfish for public health and monitoring raw oyster. Such risk assessment program consist of the harvest, post-harvest and public health modules, while the harvest module is based on the level of V. parahaemolyticus. Beside V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae and V. vulnificus are other important human pathogens in aquacultural environments. The aim of this study is to provide data for the establishment of domestic risk assessment for these pathogens by monitoring the dynamic changes of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae and V. vulnificusin in sediment, seawater and seafood from the aquacultural farms and focuses on the dynamic change and characteristic of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Six fish aquaculture farms (ponds) were selected, two for Epinephelus, two for milk fish and two for tilapia. Sediment, water and cultured animals were sampled in September, December, March and June represent different seasons and the temperature, salinity and other environmental factors were also determinated. The results showed that the Kaohsiung's Yong' an Dist had the highest density of V.parahaemolyticus in the Epinephelus culturing pond and highest density of V. cholerae and V. vulnificus in milk fish culturing pond. As determined by linear multiple regression, the water temperatures significantly affected the the density of V. parahaemolyticus. Antibiotic susceptibilities of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates in this study had no significant difference from those of previous study. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) results showed that the environmental V. parahaemolyticus isolates did not exhibit any geographic specificity. In the virulent gene experiment, we identified two tdh+, trh- pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates, isolate SCS1112-1 contained the vcrD1, vopD2 andvopP and isolate SCS1112-2 contained the vcrD1, vopD2, vopB2, vopP and vopC virulence-associated genes. The MTase gene and some other virulence-associated genes were also present in a few of the environmental isolates, and these results suggest the horizontal transfer of these genes in the clinical and environmental isolates of this species. These data are the results of the first year of a two-year study, and the accumulated data will provide appropriate information for the establishment of the local risk assessment program for pathogenic vibrios.

During the 1980’s millions of households in Bangladesh switched from drinking surface water to private groundwater wells to reduce their exposure to fecal microorganisms. Sadly, this switch to shallow groundwater resulted in the largest example of drinking water poisoning in history, with approximately 100 million people exposed to high concentrations of naturally occurring Arsenic in the groundwater. Spatial distribution of Arsenic in the shallow aquifers tends to be patchy, so the most economical mitigation option has been lateral switching from high Arsenic wells to nearby low Arsenic wells. The recently developed Arsenic flushing conceptual model, which explains the spatial distribution of Arsenic throughout the shallow aquifers in Bangladesh, suggests however, that low Arsenic zones are recharged via coarse-grained, rapid flow pathways and therefore represent a higher risk for waterborne pathogens. The objectives of this dissertation are to evaluate new methods for sampling and detection of waterborne pathogens, while also identifying sources of fecal contamination and transport pathway(s) to private wells emplaced within the shallow aquifers. It was demonstrated that private wells are broadly contaminated with E. coli, with prevalence ranging from 30 to 70%. The fact that E. coli was detected more frequently in private wells than sealed monitoring wells (p<0.05) suggests that well construction and/or daily pumping contribute to fecal contamination of the private wells. Using DNA-based molecular fecal source tracking, contamination was demonstrated to originate from human fecal waste. Unsanitary latrines, which spill effluent onto the open ground, were demonstrated to cause elevated levels of fecal bacteria in ponds, found in every village. These ponds were demonstrated to have an influence on concentrations of fecal bacteria to at least distances of 12m into the adjacent aquifer. In a culture where latrines, private wells and ponds are frequently clustered closely together, these findings suggest that improvements in the management of human fecal waste changes in placement and construction of private wells could substantially reduce exposure of people to fecal pathogens. Fecal contamination was found to be pervasive in low Arsenic, unconfined, shallow aquifers, and therefore gains from well switching to avoid Arsenic need to be balanced with the risk of consuming waterborne pathogens.

A DNA microarray capable of detecting 445 virulence factors (VFs) and antibiotic resistance genes was used to assess human and animal fecal E. coli isolates for pathogenic potential and host specificity. The only enteric pathotype detected was atypical EPEC, which was found in 3.7% of all isolates. 17% of human isolates were extraintestinal pathotypes, with the majority of these being uropathogenic. Isolates from humans and chickens were the most likely to have resistance to at least one class of antibiotic. VFs that were found almost exclusively in human isolates, when compared to one other group, included sat (10% of human isolates and no animal isolates), iucD and iut (24% of human, <1% mammal) and iha (16% human, <1% wild avian). Decision trees utilizing multiple probes to identify the source of an E. coli isolate were able to correctly identify the source of 79% of validation isolates in a human vs. animal comparison.
Environment Canada

Waterborne pathogen presence caused by fecal pollution is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In developed countries, this problem can result in waterborne outbreaks. Research suggests that there is a need for better fecal indicators because current methods (total coliforms and E. coli) are insufficient. This study investigated Bacteroidales 16S rRNA markers as a microbial source tracking tool in an agricultural watershed. Correlations between pathogens and markers were also investigated. Water quality monitoring was conducted following assay validation of ruminant-, bovine-, human-specific, and universal Bacteroidales markers. Results revealed a positive relationship between E. coli and the universal marker. Ruminant- and bovine-specific marker detection was associated with increased runoff due to precipitation; however, the human associated marker was not detected. Furthermore, no correlations between Campylobacter, Salmonella, or E. coli O157:H7 could be made. Consequently, these techniques have potential to become a powerful tool; however, further research is needed